Immunization of monkeys with varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein antigens and their response to challenge with simian varicella virus.

African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) were immunized with three intramuscular injections of gpI, gpII, or gpIII glycoprotein antigens of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Antibody responses to VZV were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to simian varicella virus (SVV) by immunofluorescence and by serum neutralization assays. Two weeks following the third immunization with VZV glycoproteins, the monkeys were challenged by inoculation of SVV. Antibodies to gpII or gpIII partially prevented infection by SVV, while the presence of antibodies to gpI was ineffective in preventing disease induced by SVV challenge. Factors affecting the immunogenicity of these antigens in this model are discussed.